Expansible pulley.



J. MULLER.

EXPANSIBLE PULLEY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1917.

Patented J an. 22, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY J. MULLER.

EXPANSIBLE PULLEY.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24. 1911.

Patented Jan. 22,1918.

2 SHEETSSHEET Z.

ATTOHN EY JULIUS MULLER, 0F RIDGEWOOD, NEW YORK.

EXPANSIBLE PULLEY.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 121% Application filed Apri124, 1917. Serial No. 164,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that T, JULIUS MpnLnR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridgewood; in the county of Queens and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1n Expansible Pulleys, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to expans1ble pulleys, and aims primarily to provide a slmplified and improved mechanism capable of being easily and quickly manipulated to vary the diameter of the pulley.

A further object of the invention is to provide a variable speed pulley or wheel which has its diameter controlling mechanism so arranged that danger of accidental changing of the diameter will be wholly obviated.

Still further objects reside in providmg a pulley of this character which has its diameter changing mechanism so constructed and assembled as to minimize the opportun ty for wear, breakage or derangement; wh ch is capable of being minutely ad usted wh ch has improved means upon its expansible run for accommodating a belt without danger of breaking or cutting the latter, and which will prove thoroughly eficient and practical in use.

With these objects in view, together with others which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the novel formation, combination, and arrangement of parts, all as will be described more fully hereinafter, illustrated in the draw ngs, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation of a variable speed pulley constructed in accordance wlth the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional V ew taken substantially upon line 2-2 of Fig. l; o 0

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectlonal vlew illustrating the manner in which the spoke studs are connected with the rotatable ring;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4- 1 of Fig, 3, and illustrating the manner in which the ring ends are connected;

Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of one of the spokes; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a part of the improved rim sections.

Referring now to the drawings, 10 indicates a hub, and 11 represents generally the extensible rim. The hubin the present in- I stance is composed of a pair of sections identical in construction, the same being adapt ed when secured together by bolts 12 upon a pivoted between the said flanges by the pins 16, so as to be capable of rocking between the said flanges. It will be observed that the improved pulley is provided with a relatively great number of such spokes, and certain of the faces of the said spokes are cut away as indicated at 17 to permit of the same folding or nesting closely upon each 0 er.

Rotatably mounted upon one of the flanges of the hub, and preferably upon the flange 14: is a ring or annular member 18, the latter being provided upon its inner face with a plurality of inclined grooves 19. These grooves extend from the inner to the outer periphery of the said ring, and there is provided one of these grooves for each of the spokes 15. The ring is connected at its ends by a tie plate 20, the latter being held to the adjacent ends of the ring by rivets or screws 21. Each of the spokes 15 is provided upon its face adjacent the ring 18 with an outwardly projecting stud or pin 22, and these pins or studs engage within the adjacent groove 19 in the ring 18. lit will be observed that the studs 22 are located upon the spokes of arms 18 inwardly from the ends of the latter.

The ring 18 is held against lateral movement in one direction by the spokes 15, and holding cleats 24 are detachably secured by bolts or screws 25 to the flange 14 to hold the said ring against lateral'movement in the opposite direction. This particular construction maintains the ring properly positioned upon the flange 14, but does not prohibit rotation of the ring. The bolts 25 for securing these holding cleats in position, pass through the flanges 13 and 14-, and constitute the supporting pivot for the end of the adjacent spoke 15.

Rotatably mounted upon the ring 18 and projecting from the outer face thereof is a v post 26, which carries a head 27 through which a bolt 28 loosely extends, one end of the said bolt being pivotally connected as at 29 to the flange 14 of the hub. It will be observed, particularly with reference to Fig. 1, that the point of connection of the bolt 28 with the pulley hub is tangential to the location of the post 26 upon the ring, and therefore it will be observed that when the adjusting nuts 30 carried by the bolt 28 upon each side of the head 27 are rotated, the pivotal connection of the post 26 will be moved toward or away from the pivot 29, accordingly as the adjusting nuts are rotated. It is thus seen that minute rotary adjustment of the ring 18 may be attained, and by reason of the pin and slot arrangement 2219 on the spokes and ring respectively, the said spokes will be rocked upon their pivots 16. When the distance between the post 26 and pivot 29 is increased, the spokes 15 willbe so operated that thelr points of connection wlth the mm 11 Wlll be moved a greater distance from the center of the hub, whereupon the diameter of the pulley will be increased, while movement of the ring in the opposite direction W111 serve to diminish the diameter of the hub.

The improved rim employed in carrying out the invention consists of a plurahty of interfitting slidable or telescopic plates, the alternate outer plates being indicated at 35, and the innerplates being represented the numeral 36. The plates 36 have their ends rolled to provide beads 37, which are adapted to engage and slide within the rolled portions 38 of the outer sectlons. These plates have smooth outer faces, and

are arched slightly throughout their width' so as to provide a relatively smooth peripheral face for the accommodation of a belt. Each of the plates 36 is provided with a longitudinally disposed spacmg or fill1ng member 39, the latter being of a thickness equal to that of the plate 35, whereby even-v ness of the belt engaging surface for the pulley is assured.

Each plate is provided upon its mner surface with a centrally arranged cleat 40, be-

tween the arms or lugs of which the outer extremities of the spokes 15 are pivoted, as indicated at 41.

From the foregoing,.it is apparent that I have provided a pulley which is of extremely simple construction, and which may be quickly and conveniently as well as accurately adjusted to the desired diameter. The particular ring moving apparatus which I employ is so locked in its various positions of adjustment aS to overcome any possibility of accidental expansion or contraction of the pulley.

While the present disclosure is what is believed to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the manager invention is not limited thereto, but that various changes in the minor details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be made, without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a hub,- a rim, spokes connected with said rim and hub, and means around said hubto move said spokes and thereby cause expansion of said rim.

.2. In a device of the class described, a hub, a rim, spokes connecting said hub and rim and means movable upon said hub for causing expansion of said rim.

3. In a device of theclass described, a rim, a hub, spokes connected with said rim and hub, and a rotatable member on said hub for moving said spokes around the hub and causing expansion of said rim.

4. In a device of the class described, a rim, a hub, spokes connected with said rim and hub, a rotatable member surrounding said hub, said spokes being connected with said rotatable member and means for adjusting said rotatable member around said hub to cause said spokes to expand said hub.

5. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, a rotatable member on said hub, spokes pivotally .connecting said rim and hub, and connections between said spokes and said rotatable member, whereby rotary movement of the latter will move said spokes to expand or contract said rim. P

6. In a device of the class describedfa hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, a rotatable member on said hub, and means governed by the rotary movement of said member for swinging said spokes on their hub pivots.

7. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, a rotatable member on said hub, means governed by the movement of said member for swinging said.

spokes on their hub pivots, and means for holding said member against rotation.

8. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, a rotatable member on said hub, a link connecting said hub and rotatable member, and means for moving said link and holding the same in adjusted positions.

9. In a device of the class described, a

hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, an annular member rotatably mounted on said hub and provided with spaced grooves, and studs on said spokes engaged in said grooves.

10. In a device of the class described, a

hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, a rotatable member onsaid hub and provided with anma man gularly disposed, grooves, studs on said spokes engaging insaid grooves, and means for rotating said rotatable member.

11. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, a ring rotatably mounted on said hub and provided on one face with a plurality of grooves, studs on said spokes engaging in said grooves, a link connecting said rin and hub, and means for adjusting said link.

12. In a device'of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, spokes pivotally connecting said hub and rim, a ring rotatably mounted on said hub and having one face provided with spaced grooves, studs on said spokes engaging in said rooves, a link pivoted at one end to said hu a post rotatably mounted on said rim, the said link being extended through said post, and jam nuts on said link on opposite sides of said 0st. p 13. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, .a pair of flanges arranged in spaced relation on said hub, spokes pivoted at their inner ends between said flanges, the opposite ends of said spokes being pivoted to said rim, a ring rotatably mounted on one of said flanges, the said ring having grooves in one of its faces, studs projecting from said spokes and engagin in said grooves, andmeans for rotating said rlng.

14. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, flanges arranged in spaced relation on said hub, spokes pivotally connected at their outer ends to said rim, a ring rotatably mounted on one of said flanges, cleats for holding said ring against movement laterally in one direction, and pins connecting said cleats to said flanges and forming pivots for the inner ends of certain of said spokes.

15. In a device of the class described, a hub, an expansible rim, the said rim comprising a plurality of telescopic sections, filler members on the outer faces of certain of said sections, spokes pivotally connecting each section with said hub, and means for moving said spokes.

In testimony whereof I atlix my in presence of two witnesses.

JULIUS MULLER.

signature Witnesses:

CHRISTOPHER G. KELLY, J osErH ZEIGER. 

